Avoiding the Trap:

The belief that PERFECT people have PERFECT bodies and live

PERFECT lives!

Today’s Societal Pressure

From flipping the pages of your favorite magazine to flipping channels with the television remote; people are constantly being bombarded with images of thin people.

Then and Now

THEN- in the 1950’s Marilyn Monroe was looked at as a sex symbol; today she would be considered overweight.

                                  

          

Then and Now

NOW- children are seeing female actors taking their weight to the extremes.

                                    

Staggering Stats

About 1% of female adolescents have anorexia.4% of college-aged women have Bulimia.Only about 10% of those with anorexia or bulimia are men.Primarily affects teens, but children as young as five and as old as seventy-six have been affected.

More stats

About 60% of adults are overweight and about 1/3 of those are obese.About 72% of alcoholic women younger than 30 also have an eating disorder.Without any treatment about 20% die.With treatment about 60% recover fully and about 20% make only partial recovery.

What our kids are told is beautiful…

BARBIE– Height 6’0”– Weight 101 lbs.– Size 4– Bust 39”– Waist 19”– Hips 33”

What our kids don’t see as REALITY

AVERAGE WOMAN– Height 5’ 4”– Weight 145 lbs.– Size 12-14– Bust 36-38”– Waist 30-33”– Hips 40-42”

                           

Types of Eating Disorders

Anorexia Nervosa- the relentless pursuit of thinness.Bulimia Nervosa- the diet-binge-purge disorder.Binge Eating- uncontrollable urge to eat

Less Common Disorders

Anorexia Athletica- compulsive exerciseMuscle dysmorphia- opposite of anorexia Rumination disorder- food regurgitationPica- craving of non-food itemsChew and spit- tastes and chews food but will not swallow.

Anorexia Nervosa

Person will refuse to maintain normal weight.Weighs 85% or less than “normal” for age and height.Is terrified of being fat.Reports of feeling very fat.Often associated with depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Bulimia Nervosa

Person binge eats.Feeling out of control while eating.Vomits, exercises, and misuses laxatives to get rid of calories.Believes self-worth requires being thin.Weight is usually normal or near normal.Diets when not binging so becomes hungry and binges again.

Binge Eating Disorder

Binge eats frequently and repeatedly.Feels out of control and unable to stop eating during binge.Feels guilty and ashamed of binge eating.Has a history of diet failures.Tends to be depressed and obese.Usually eat for emotional reasons.

Warning Signs

Food Behaviors– Skipping meals– Small portions– Refusal to eat in front of others– Cooks for entire household, but will not eat meal– Always has an excuse of why not to eat– Becomes “disgusted” with former food favorites– Usually seen drinking diet soda

Signs, cont.

Appearance and Body Image Behaviors– Sudden loss of weight– Fear of gaining weight– Wears baggy clothing– Obsesses about size of clothes– Complains of being fat– Spends a lot of time in front of mirror finding things to

criticize

Signs, cont.

Exercise Behaviors– Exercises compulsively and excessively– Athletic performance begins to suffer– Refuses to change workout routine

Signs, cont.

Thoughts and Beliefs– Loses ability to think logically– Becomes irrational and denies anything being wrong– Becomes argumentative– Has trouble concentrating– Envious of thin people

Signs, cont.

Feelings– Will not discuss feelings– Becomes moody, irritable, cross– Feels that they do not fit in so avoid friends and

activities– Feels inadequate– Experiences depression, anxiety, guilt, and

loneliness

Signs, cont.

Social Behaviors– Tries to please everyone– Tend to avoid sexual activity– Tries to control what and where family eats– Person craves true intimacy but at same time is

terrified of it– Lack of impulse control

Medical Complications

Anorexia– Damage to vital organs especially heart and brain– Stop menstruating– Blood pressure drops– Nails and hair becomes brittle– Lowering of body temperature; always cold– dehydration

Medical Complications

Bulimia– Swollen joints– Light-headed– Loss of calcium in bones– Irregular heart rhythms and heart failure– Rupture of stomach– Loss of enamel on teeth– Scaring on back of hands

Medical Complications

Binge Eating– Obese– High cholesterol– High blood pressure– Diabetes– Increased risk of gallbladder disease, heart disease,

and many types of cancer

Simplistic Causes

Low self-esteemDepressionStress and anxietyNeed to have control of somethingHeredityFathers/brothers view on weight

Where to go for Help

Call local physician or admit to a hospital specializing in eating disordersInternet sites– www.anred.com– www.anad.org– www.natioaleatingdisorders.org